Washing machine



Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,334

A. w. AL'roRFr-:R v

WASHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 2, 1921 "Nun EHEIM? Feb. 23 ,1926. 1574,334'

A. W. ALTORFER WASHING MAQHINE Filed May 2 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 23 ,1926. 1,574,334

A. W. ALTORFER f I WASHING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1921 4 sheets-sheet 5 v 125g, egl-@l- /55 I/z /Z e e rl I rg0 e i il 7 i I 1 e l Feb. 2s ,1926. 1,574,334 A. w. ALTORFER WASHING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 .Arf-ar Patented Feb.23,192e.

ALPHEUS 1,574,334 PATENT OFFICE.

WQVALTOBFER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS., ASSIGNOR TO ALTORFER BROS. GOM` PANY, OF EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application ined May 2,

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHEUS W. Amon- FER, a citizen of the United States, a res1` dent `of Peoria, in the county of Peorla 'and State of Illinois., have invented new and useful Improvements in IVashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to new and useful improvements in washing machines, and particularly to that type of machines used for domestic purposes in the home.

One of the objects of the present invention is yto improve that type' of domestic washing machines which employs a revoluble receptacle for the clothes and known to the trade as a vcylinder washing machine, and 'has reference particularly to a new and improved mechanism for transmitting power from a motor supported on the machine base to the washing cylinder.

` A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved clutch mechanism for connecting and disconnecting the washing cylinder with the driving mechanism.

That the invention may be more fully understood referenceis Vhad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the description illustrating a preferred embodiment-of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cylinder washing machine embodying my improvements with a part of the wringer mechanism broken away and with a part of the machine casing also broken away; c l

F'g. 2 is an elevation of the machine, looking in at the left end or' Fig. 1, part of the machine casing being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical cross section` as lhe same would appear if taken on the line 3 3 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail partially in section as the same would appear if `taken on the line 4 4 Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail in plan partially in section as the same would appear if taken on the line 5 5 Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail partially in section as the same would appear if taken on the line 6 6 Fig. 5, except upon a somewhat larger scale.

Lilie characters of reference .denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

In the drawings, the frame of the machine is preferably shown as comprising the HEISSUED four corner posts or standards 1,'the connecting head rail 2, upon which rests the removable lid or cover 3, the base rails 4, and a cross rail 5. This structure is supported upon the caster wheels 6 having a swivel connection with the lower ends of the corner posts or standards 1, and provides a means for moving the machine with convenience and ease from one place to another.

To enclose the cylinder of the machine, a casing 7 of suitablev design is Provided and arranged for suitable connection with the posts or standards of the machine. 8 designates the washing cylinder of the machine and in construction it is not vunlike cylinders of this character in general use, except the mounting which will permit the cylinder to be inserted and removed from the machine casing, and the means or mechanism for clutching the cylinder to the power mechanism for imparting an alternate rotary m0- tion thereto. To the ends of the cylinder 8 are attached plates 9 and 10, the former being preferably somewhat-larger in diameter than the latter, and each is provided with a trunnion 11 adaptedto rest and have a journal-bearing in bearing plates on the machine frame. The trunnion 11 of the plate 9 is preferably vformed br provided with a clutch socket 12 preferably triangular in shape, although it may be of any other desired shape suitable to receive a slidable clutch member for connecting the cylinder 8 with the power mechanism of the machine. In this instance the clutch member designated 13, .is a slidable shaft formed on its inner end with a head 14, which in shape, corresponds to the contour of the' socket 12 in the trunnion 11. Said. shaft is .journaled in the bearing ends 15 and 15 cia housing \16, supported on the upper end of a casing or sleeve 17 and formed or provided with.

a bearing 18 in axial alignment with said sleeve 17 to receive a vertically disposed shaft 19 operatively carried, in said sleeve and passing up through and journaled in the bearing 18 of the housing 16.

The bearingend 15 of the housing 16 is preferably formed with a semispherical plate extension A26, see Fig. 4, on whlch rests and may have a bearing the socket trunnion 11 on the plate 9 secured to the cylinder 8.

A bushing 21- forming a stuliing box, is threaded into the bearing end 15 through which the shaft 13 may have axial movebetween said vment. On the upper end of theverticallyl disposed shaft 19 1s secured a bevel gear wheel 22 rotated within the housing 16 and said gear wheel is in constant mesh and drives a bevel gear wheel 23 carriedby the shaft 13 and in which the shaft 13 has axial movement. In other words, the shaft 13 and bevel gear wheel 23 have a feathered key connection, whereby the said shaft may be driven through the operation of `the gear yet -may* have a slidable relation therein for clutching the end 14 of said shaft in the socket l2 of the trunnion 11, and declutching it therefrom.

The housing 16 is open at its upper end' and closed by a cap plate or cover 24 arranged to be removably secured on saidl housing. These parts 'may be assembled, las may be understood, by inserting the shaft 13 into the housing through 'the bearing end 15', after the gear wheel 22 has been secured on the upper end of the shaft 19, and during the placing of the shaft 13 the gear wheel 23 may be held in position whilev the shaft 13 is inserted' therethrough, after' which the cap plate or cover24 is secured in position.

The shaft is formed 4intermediate its length with an annular groove 25 in which operates a roller 26 connected ecoentrically with a journaled in-the top of the cap plate or cover 24. To the rojecting end of said stem 27 is connected) a lever arm 28 which when oscillated, will, through the connection of the stem 27 with the shaft 13 reciprocate the latter for the purpose of causing the inner end thereof to clutch with th trunnion 11 or be. declutched therefrom. A locking means is shown in Fig. 3 for the .two .different positions of the stem 27, but as this is of a character well known and no cla'nn is being made therefor, further description is unnecessary.

The housing 16 is suitablylconnected with the casing 7 of the machine so that the slidable shaft .13, as will be understood, is in axial alignment with the axis ofthe cylinder 8 and the socket trunnion 11, and to brace the casing a flangedplate 29 is provided which extends crosswise of one sidel of the machine, and is suitably secured to the posts or standards 1, see Flgs. 1 and 3. On the inside of the casing and encirchng they bearing end 15 of the housing, is a Figs. 3 and 4, and

bracing plate 30, see

plate and said casing 1s a packing 30.

When the driving mechanism of the machine is Lconnected with the motor and such mechanism operated, the vertically disposed shaft 19 is intended to be continuously rotated and as will be understood, when the shaft 13 is clutched to the trunnion 11 of the cylinder 8, rotary motion is imparted stem 27 passing up through and to said cylinder. It will likewise be understood that even though the vertically disposed shaft 19 is continuously rotated, when the shaft 13 has been declutched from the trunnion 11, said shaft 13 may be rotated but no motion is imparted to the cylinder 8.

This operation of the cylinder is controlled through the leve-r arm 28 and is conveniently located so that the attendant may have convenient control at all times 7 of the operation of the cylinder 8. Said l cylinder is so supported in the frame of the machine that when the shaft 13 is declutched from the cylinder and the lid or cover 3 is removed, the cylinder 8 may be lifted from the machine. Of course it is understood that to insert into or remove the clothes from the cylinder it is not necessary to remove the cylinder from the machine, as these cylinders are provided with removable 'covers to allow for the placing or removing of the clothes.

While I have described that rotary motion is imparted to the cylinder 8, the mechanism for` imparting this motion to the cylinder is so arranged that the vertically disposed shaft 19 is rotated first in one direction and then in the opposite direction and will impart an alternate rotary motion to said cylinder. i

I greffer that the driving mechanism be suita ly encased on the base of the machine which not-'only will protect the attendant, but in such a manner as to enhance the design of the machine. Such housing mecha- 100 nism includes the sections of the casing 3l and I32. The lower end of the sleeve 17 which houses the vertically disposed shaft 19 is connected with said housing for the driving mechanism, and the lower end of the 105 shaft 19 has secured thereto and within such housing a small gear wheel 33, which meshes with and is adapted to receive power from a toothed segment 34, secured to thc short shafth35 journaled in said housing. To 110 this segment 34 is connected one end of a pitman 36, the opposite end of which is connected to a. crank'arm 37, secured on a short shaft 38, journaled in said housing, to which is also connected a large gear wheel 39. Meshing with the gear wheel 39 is an intermediate gear` wheel 40 journaled on a short shaft 41 and 'said intermediate gear wheel 40 transmits motion from the gear wheel 39 to a small ear wheel 42, secured on the lower end o a vertically disposed wringer driving shaft preferably encased in an upstanding sleeve 44, the lower end of which is connected with the housing for the driving mechanism and its upper end is connected with a tubular bearing 45 forming a part of or attached to a bracket 46 preferably secured to' one of the four posts or standards 1 and at one corner of the machine. The shaft last mentioned is the me- 13 dium through which power is transmitted from the driving mechanism already described to the wringer mechanism to be described. Meshing with the gear wheel 39 previously referred to, is a small gear wheel 47 secured to the lower end of a short vertically disposed shaft 48 which has secured to its upper end a worm wheel 49 which 1s encased\in a superimposed housing 50 on the section 32 of the main housing, and covered by the cover plate 51 in which the upper end of the short shaft 48 is journaled. Meshing with said worm wheel 49 is a worm 52 carried on a short horizontally disposed shaft 53 on one end of which is secured a belt wheel 54; said horizontally disposed shaft 53 and its worm 52 being journaled within the superimposed housing section'50, previously referred to, and best seen in F1gs. 5 and 6. b

The wheel 54 is connected by means of a belt 55, see I`I`ig. 1, with a belt wheel 56,

connected with the shaft of an electric motor 57 suitably supported on the base of the machine. This motor, as 1s customary 1n machines of this character, is arranged to be connected with a source of power through an electric circuit or from some similar means. While I have elected to show that the driving means is preferably ani/)electric motor, it is to be understood that where electricity is not available a hydrocarbon motor or some other power means may be employed.

Assuming that the machine is operated by an electric motor 57 and it is connected with l a source of power, such motor will transmit motion through the pulley wheel 54 to the short vertically disposed shaft 48 and such shaft through the gearing connection with the toothed segment 34 of the intermediate gear wheel 40 will impart movement respectively to the cylinder' operating shaft 19 and the wringer operating shaft referred to.

The pitman connection 36 between the Shaft 38 and the toothed segment 34 will impart an alternate rotary motion to the vertically disposed shaft 19, and through ita similar motion to the cylinder v8, whereas the gear wheels 39,40, and 42 will impart a continuous rotary movement in one direction to the Wringer shaft for the purpose of transmitting motion to the wringer mechanism.

The wringer mechanism to which reference has been made, includes a frame structure 58 in which is suitably ljournaled the Wringer rolls 59 and 59 suitably geared to the wringer driving shaft.

Reference being had to .Figs 3, 5, and 6, attention is called to the fact that the construction is such that the mechanism therein shown may run in oil, which notfonly increases the efficiency of these operating parts but lengthens their life and increases usefulness of the machine. i The flanged brace 29 for the casing where the housing 16 is connected thereto, 1s preferabl made of sheet metal and stamped or y other ise formed to give the shape shown for the purpose lof strength. This does away with a heavy, cumbersome casing such as have been used heretofore and also lowers the cost.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the lcharacter in combination, a frame, a casing within and secured to said frame, a-housing. connected with said casing and formed with axially disposed spaced en'd bearings, a bracing plate the" described,

for the housing and casing disposed in horizontal position cross-wise of said casing on the outside thereof between said housing.

and casing and secured to saidframe, and a bracing plate connected to the inside of the casing and encircling the inner bearing of said housing. y

2. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a casing, a cylinderl provided with an axially disposed clutch socket, a

reciprocally supported shaft having a clutch on one end arranged for clutch engagement with the clutch socket ofthe cylinder, means for Inoving'said shaft into and out of clutch engagement with the cylinder, a verticallyl disposed driving shaft, gearing connecting the two said shafts, driving gearing on the base o'f the machine including an oscillatory toothed segment, driving connections between said driving gearing and said vertically disposed shaft, a motor, and means for actuating said driving gearing from said motor.

3. In a machine of the character described, l

in combination, a casing, a cylinder provided .with an axially disposed clutch socket, a reciprocally supportedshaft having a clutch on one end arranged for clutch engagement with the clutch socket of-the cylinder, means for moving said shaft into and out of clutch engagementwith the cylinder, a vertically disposed driving shaft, gearing connecting 'y the two said shafts, gearing arranged on the base of the machine, such gearing includinga toothed segment, a crank arm, and a pit-` man connection between said crank arm and 'said segment, gearing connectlng the segment with'the vertically disposed shaft, ai

. means for moving said shaft into and out of clutch engagement with the cylinder, a vertically disposed shaft, gearing connecting the two shafts, a toothed segment supported yto be oscillated adjacent the lower end of 'said vertically disposed shaft, a gear wheeld on the lower end of the vertically disposed shaft and arranged to be operated by said segment, a pitman connected with said segment, a crank connected with said pitman, gearing for operating the crank, a' motor, and aY driving connection between said motor and said gearing.

5. In a washing machine, `in combination, a casing, a washing cylinder removably supported in said casing and rotatable alternately in opposite directions, atrunnion cnnected axially with one side of said cylinder and provided with a clutch socket, a horizontally arranged shaft adapted to be moved endwise into and out of clutch engagement with said trunnion, bevel gearing for actuating saidshaft through one of which-the latter may be moved, a hand lever to reciprocate said shaft, a vertically disposed shaft arranged to actuate said gearing, and gearing arranged to continuously impart alternate rotary motion to said vertical shaft and to said clutch shaft through said bevel gearing when said clutch shaft is in clutch relation with or declutched from said trunnion.

G. In,y a washing machine, in combination, a casing, open bearing seats secured axially to the opposite inside walls of said casing, a washing cylinder, trunnions connected axially with said cylinder and adapted to have a removable bearing relation with said bearing seats,y one of said trunnions provided with a clutch socket, a housing secured to the outside of said casing, bevel gearing journaledwithin said housing, a shaft disposed horizontally within said housing and having a spline and groove connection with one of said bevel gears and movable endwise therethrough and through said housing and casing and adapted to be moved into'and out of engagement with said socketed trunnion, a lever on said housing in operative connection with said shaft, a vertically disposed shaft operative connection with said bevel earing, and gearing arranged to continuous y impart alternate rotaryr motion to said vertical shaft and to said clutchshaft through said bevel gearing when said clutch shaft is in clutch relation with or declutched from said trunnion.

.7. In a washing machine, in combination, a casing, a washing cylinder removably journaled in said casing and rotatable alternately in opposite directions, a horizontally disposed clutch shaft arranged to be moved into and out of axial clutch engagement with said cylinder, bevel gearing associated with said clutch shaft and through one of which said shaft is axially movable, and avertically disposed operating 'shaft arranged to continuously impart alternate rotary motion to said clutch shaft through said bevel gearing when said shaft is in clutch relation with or declutched from said cylinder. n

8. In a washing machine, in combination, a easing, a washing cylinder removably supported in said casing and rotatable alternate-ly in opposite directions, means to actuate said cylinder, including a driving element mvable into and out of axial clutch engagement with said cylinder, a vertically disposed shaft in constant operative relation with said driving element, means to continuously impart alternate rotary motion to said shaft, and means to reciprocate said driving element, the latter movable into and out of clutch engagement with said cylinder without disturbing its operative relation with said driving shaft.

9. In a washing machine, in combination, a casing, a washing cylinder removably supported in said casing and rotatable alternately in opposite directions, means to actuate said cylinder, including a driving elcment movable into and out of axial clutch engagement with' said cylinder, a vertically 'disposed shaft in constant operative relation with said driving element, an oscillatorysegment rack inoperative relation with the lower end of said shaft to continuously impart alternately rotary motion thereto, means for oscillating said rack, and means to reciprocate said driving element, the latp 

